Blunkett apologises for “premature” homicide review announcement
The Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to MPs for an announcement on the review of murder law which was released to the press before MPs.
Mr Blunkett also confirmed that a review on homicide law would take place. He said the review would take no more than 18 months, and build on work of the Law Commission – which has branded the current system “a mess”. The review’s terms of reference will be laid before the House of Commons shortly.
Yesterday, a press release from the Home Office said that the Home Secretary would announce the review in the Commons debate on the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill on the same day. In the event, Mr Blunkett did not make any statement.
He claimed that the Conservatives “filibustered deliberately to wipe out the Third Reading”, as MPs ran out of time to have any debate, and so out of time for him to inform the Commons.
Responding to an urgent question from the Shadow Home Secretary David Davis in the Commons this lunchtime, Mr Blunkett apologised for the “premature” press release that was issued, and told MPs that arrangements had been made to ensure that such a situation did not recur.
Giving more details of the review, Mr Blunkett said that many people, including judges, had sought clarification on partial defences and on the interface between murder and manslaughter.
Responding to questioning from Mr Davis, the Home Secretary told MPs that “no avenues have been closed off” in the formal review of the homicide laws, with the sole caveat that Parliament would retain the power to determine mandatory sentencing.
Mr Blunkett also confirmed that the “burning issue” of self-defence would be covered by the review.
August’s report from the Law Commission suggested that there would be support for gradating the seriousness of murder offences and ending the mandatory life sentence for murder. This, though, seems to have been ruled out by the Government.
